What Does Mbappe Know That Most Zoomers Don't?

Tricky to truly relish football's first 'proper' world club cup tournament.

Skewed qualification criteria, player burn-out ignorance, blatant money-grab by the dictator-friendly suits.

American stadiums never designed for the beautiful game, climate conditions wholly unsuited for elite ties, poor pitches that would shame the grassroots.

Yet once there, those in it do seem to want to win it. One or two of the games have been worth watching. And there's the nagging feeling that, despite its numerous abominations, it's a competition that may well last.

The last quarter-final featured Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. I did enjoy it. Especially given the crazy final ten minutes, befitting a major knockout game.

The enigma that is Kylian Mbappe scored with a marvellous finish in the midst of that dramatic conclusion, almost at the death.

The snap above shows his goal celebration.

He ran to the nearest camera. Making the digits 2 and 0 with his fingers.

The meaning was not lost on the viewing millions.

20. The shirt number of Diogo Jota. A top player, this season winning the EPL with Liverpool, and the Nations League with Portugal. Who just a few days earlier, was cut short in his prime. Alongside his brother, also a pro. When his acid green Lambo exploded in flames after a tyre blowout. Deaths notable worldwide for being as scarcely believable as they were totally tragic.

The tribute duly noted.

Notice the index and middle finger 'victory-v' to our left. The 'o', our right.

Mbappe knows he is projecting to us.

So he mirrors what he'd do for himself.

And this is one of the gesturing tips still today I find myself reminding salespeople of when over video.

Ask someone to show you 20 this way, and how many would present 02?

Too many, I'd proffer.

Nor is finger-counting the only trap.

Alphabet-hands, bullet-style tallying and miming a graph's motion also occur the wrong-way-round.

Not for this superstar. And now, not for you either, right?